Heart attack in Spain

[Br1ghtons]

I took a heart attack when I just arrived in Spain with my Daughter. I took a cardiac fit, and then a H A. I was rushed to hospital where 2 stents were fitted. One of the 8 tablets I was prescribed was ramopril. The cough this caused was intolerable, and my doctor has changed me to candesartan. Anyone else experienced this. I feel fine apart from the side effects of meds.

[Prada47]

A well known side effect of Ramipril is the cough and Candesartan is often the alternative handed out by Drs. Hope that helps if you put it in the search box you will see loads of answers !!!

Regards

[sherwood123]

Sorry to hear about your heart attack in Spain, I was taking Ramipril sometime ago, initially I had a cough but it eased in time.I would be very interested to hear from you regarding , what part of Spain where you in , also did your insurance cover take up the costs or was your treatment free under the old EU insurance card. Regards Stephen

[Br1ghtons in reply to sherwood123]

I am with Staysure, and I always state my pre-existing conditions. I went to a private hospital, so they don't accept an EU card. I was paid out in full

[sherwood123 in reply to Br1ghtons]

Many thanks, I was just wondering if you we’re on one of the islands and what resources they have in dealing with such matters. I don’t suppose what hospital you were in as long as you got sorted.Any one who as less concerning injuries who need treatment, are often taken to a private hospital, one reason our premiums are high, just a thought. Regards and take care Stephen

[Mrypg9 in reply to sherwood123]

I am British by birth but took Spanish nationality and citizenship. I’m retired and in receipt of SRP so since I arrived in 2008 I have received free health care under the reciprocal agreement. Spanish public health care is the responsibility of the regions, it is not national as in the UK. I live in Andalucia where the standard of public health care is extremely high. Most specialists work in both private and public health care so my cardiologist is the same one a friend pays to see.

I’ve been treated for cardiomyopathy since 2013, had a pacemaker in 2019, have 24 hour monitoring via a Mediotronic bedside table monitor.

Next cardio appointment April 6, last one October 2020.

[sherwood123 in reply to Mrypg9]

I was referring to holidaymakers not residents.

[Velena]

I live in Spain and was prescribed ramipril 2mg by my cardiologist in March 2021 (having previously been prescribed enalapril by another cardiologist which lowered my blood pressure too much, so much so that I was told to stop taking it after 2 weeks). I have been fine on the ramipril, have not experienced any cough or other side effects and it does seem to be helping - I had an angiogram last Monday and my ejection fraction was 49%, compared to the 41% it was when I first started taking the ramipril.

[Br1ghtons in reply to Velena]

Hi , we were at Alicante City, my insurance paid out all the hospital bills £6,000, I am waiting to see if they pay out all receipts that were sent.

[Skylajean in reply to Br1ghtons]

Can uou tell me which insurance you had and were they aware of your condition before. I have a lot of problems getting decent insurance.I hope your feeling better now.

[Br1ghtons in reply to Skylajean]

I use Staysure and always declare my pre-existing medical conditions. They paid out in full. Thank goodness

[Ramilia]

I too had an awful cough on ramipril so was prescribed candesartan instead. The cough started to lessen immediately and had vanished completely by 11 days after the switch.

[Br1ghtons in reply to Ramilia]

Thank you, I have noticed a difference already,

[Chriswood79]

Hi there. I was on ramapril for about 4 months and had a dry cough at night that would wake me up. I tried to live with it but was aware there were alternatives. My GP moved me to Losartan potassium tablets in January. I didn’t really notice a difference to begin with but now it’s completely gone.

[Orangepeel60]

Good to hear you are on the mend. I had mine in France and the French hospital told me it wasn’t my heart. Carried on cycling in the Pyrenees. Only when I came to London did I go back to hospital. 2 stents. Cardiologist told me my fitness saved me.Yes Ramipril made me cough but I seemed to adapt to it.

Nearly 4 years on I’m good. Just hate taking tablets.

Wishing you well

Neil

[SmokeAKipper]

Yep I also had HA in Spain... in Santiago de Compostella... but meds were ok... later they were slightly changed... thank god for travel insurance

[Monty2022 in reply to SmokeAKipper]

Glad everything is working out for you. Out of interest what travel insurance did you use and did you list medical pre conditions. Thanks

[SmokeAKipper in reply to Monty2022]

I used oktotravelinsurance.co.uk and put down my conditions... very lucky while walking Camino portuguese

[Monty2022 in reply to SmokeAKipper]

Thanks for that - never heard of them where are they based?

[Br1ghtons in reply to Monty2022]

I use Staysure and I always state my pre existing conditions, and they paid out, thank goodness

[Whitehousee in reply to Br1ghtons]

I had two heart attacks in Athens not good experience demanding money as soon as we entered the hospital insurance paid up but they wanted to move me from private hospital to public so I payed another 5000 on top out of my money they flew me home with a paramedic after 8days had a angiogram there said my aterys were ok came home had another attack 4days later now have a stent an d still here after four years good luck

[SmokeAKipper in reply to Monty2022]

Based near Cambridge, they paid out without any problem nearly a year after the incident. Highly recommend just make sure anything you put on the form is fact..l eg if you are asthmatic say so...kr

[Ellester]

Hi I had a heart attack 18 months ago and was given rampiril. I had a racking cough and after 4 weeks could not bear it so I was given Lasartan but the cough took 8 weeks to stop after I gave up taking rampiril. Hope this helps

[Yogi1950s]

Coughs and ramopril are almost synonymous for some people. Your doctor has definitely done the right thing in replacing it with an alternative. The reason that ramopril is the initially issued drug is that age old concern- financial!

[MountainGoat52]

Ramipril is the usually the first medication to prescribed as it is inexpensive. I had the cough which kept both me and my wife awake at night. I was then prescribed Amlodipine which gave me some serious issues.... and so onto Losartan which I've been on for over a decade without any issues. I hope Candesartan proves to be similarly effective for you.

[rouluer]

I am sorry to hear this. ramopril - I never have had these symptons or any symtoms been taking for 9 years since from HA without any issues. ramopril is one of the most used drugs for post HA patients. Maybe speak to your Doctor and try retaking ramopril at some stage. Best regards.

[Neekey]

Hi I was on candesartan for years and they gave me a cough, HA in Cyprus 5 years ago doc put me on ramapril, cough disappeared. But ended up with runny nose through either statin, bisoporol aspirin or ramapril. Bet a lot of people suffer side effects of some description.

[Mrypg9]

If you are a Spanish resident with TIE your EU card is not valid in either public or private hospitals and consultorios.If you are not receiving SRP you can pay into the public system under the terms of the Convenio Especial which covers all pre-existing conditions ,This gives you full access to public health care and is considerably less expensive than private insurance. The same consultants often work in both public and private sectors.

[Tryphena134]

I was prescribed Rampiril 3 years ago after a heart attack and had one stent inserted. My husband’s barber told him it is well known to cause a cough and worse and suggested I ask it to be changed to 25 mg Losartan. 😂I duly asked my GP who wasn’t in the least surprised and changed the prescription to Losartan. It did help with the cough which is still present sadly but due to an underlying lung condition. My blood pressure is actually normal and now, with my cardiac consultant’s agreement I have completely eliminated Losartan from my daily pill box. So keep an eye on it in the longer term. It’s a pretty standard issue of meds after a heart attack/ stent I think but as time goes by you may be able to reduce some of them.

[Br1ghtons]

Thank you, for your helpful reply !